Some of the most practical reasons to keep a private store house
have already been listed in the introduction to the 72 Hour List.
If you have completed and survived the 72 Hour List for the Car and the 72 Hour List of Items to Keep at Home, it's time to broaden your horizons again. What? You have a life? You don't need any more challenges? Come on, you stop learning, you stop growing!

If you have arrived at the conclusion the planet is in a bit of strife, you're right. Additionally, we could be facing cataclysmic events, Biblical judgments, terrorism, natural cleansings, global karma, infectious diseases, nuclear war and other unplanned mischief. Whatever term is your point of reference, "something" is afoot, something unpleasant. Moreover, residing in one of the 10 Most Hazardous Places in America, as cited by Mark Monmonier, might further encourage you to set up survival supplies.

It is totally conceivable, no probable, we will be without power for indefinite periods of time in the not-so-distant future. Think what that implies. No power, no refrigeration. No power, no microwave. No power... no lights, no deep freeze, no oven, no blow dryer, no power tools, no air conditioning, no heaters, no TV, no kidding! The list is long. If none of us have electricity, that includes the grocery stores. What isn't picked clean during panic buying would spoil in short order without refrigeration. Keep these ideas foremost when planning food storage items.

Rather than dwell on the negative or bury our heads in denial, let's see how we can practically approach these times. Whenever I have felt overwhelmed by events beyond my control, taking positive action really helped.

Before we get into this, a few folks have asked us "Why prepare? God will take care of us." If one wants to approach this from a scriptural point of view, consider history when the Pharaoh of Egypt dreamed there would be seven plentiful years followed by seven years of famine. Pharaoh was instructed to store corn "that the land perish not through famine." Go to Famine for the actual scriptures. This describes an event which has already taken place. The Pharaoh was told by God, through Joseph, to set food aside. In the Gospel books Matthew, Mark and Luke we see famine is once again predicted. If we follow God's previous instructions, perhaps it is time to set aside some provisions again.

MAT 24:7 For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.

MAR 13:8 For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be earthquakes in divers places, and there shall be famines and troubles: these are the beginnings of sorrows.

LUK 21:11 And great earthquakes shall be in divers places, and famines, and pestilences; and fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heaven.

Before I completely drive non-Believers to inaction, let me say the balance of this information is straightforward, practical advice. No preaching.

The thing that always bugged me most was what if I weren't raptured and somehow survived these catastrophes, but wasn't prepared! The only place I'd be fit to live would be the loony bin, providing one was still standing! No food, no water, no aspirins for the headache sure to follow such an event! Two pairs of hungry puppy eyes would be looking to the adults for something to fill their tummies, not to mention all the neighbors who hadn't prepared. This scenario demanded a serious look to soften a crash into disaster.

I have spent quite a few years reading this material from countless sources, hours on the Internet or my nose poked in a book. In order to save you time, money and wasted effort, the resulting information has been compiled into this Emergency Preparedness site. Our aim is to make it as easy, concise and clear as possible covering a range of survival topics. So let's get started!

STORE - NOT HOARD

Folks like the Latter Day Saints or the Plymouth Brethren are encouraged to store a full year's supply of water, food and other essentials. The Seventh Day Adventists have also suggested from time to time that their membership put aside food stores for that prophesied time when food becomes scarce.

For most of us, a year's worth of food is simply impossible for a number of reasons. Stan and I approach our Long-Term Storage with a three-month target, but you can alter the length to whatever you decide. Again, for a lot of people, there are practical problems to consider such as how to pay for these items, what specifically is needed and in what quantity, and what to do with it once you've got it. If you have a family of four or six, plus pets, it turns into some really meaningful figures.

A second point against storing huge quantities is safety. If you are known in your community to be hoarding, in times of scarcity, you could easily become a target from greed or hunger. That's another reason why it is important to share this information with folks in your area.

Third, if under martial law you are known to have huge food reserves, it could be confiscated. It IS prudent however, to keep a reasonable amount of food, water and first aid on hand.

Fourth, besides the actual cost factor, how would you keep all that stuff organized? The key to effective home storage is rotation of nearly outdated items. Effective rotation can only be achieved through easy access to your supplies. This does not mean leaving your food jumbled in sacks straight from the grocery store. You'd spend half your time sorting through bags to locate an item.

Finally, if you store more than can be easily transport on your own back, you might have to leave the rest behind.

With these issues addressed, I can see you're anxious to get started. Let's do it!